Portable sprayer with air operated mixing means



Dec. 14, 1965 J. a. SAWYER 3,223,286

PORTABLE SPRAYER WITH AIR OPERATED MIXING MEANS Filed Aug. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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PORTABLE SPRAYER WITH AIR OPERATED MIXING MEANS Filed Aug. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J6 Fig.3:

/ INVENTOR 20 Jklrw &" Jm yey BY M271 9* 3 United States Patent Ofiice 3,223,286 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,286 PGRTABLE SPRAYER WITH AIR OPERATED MIXING MEANS James G. Sawyer, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to General Turbine Corp., Buifalo, N.Y. Filed Aug. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 131,768 14 Claims. (Cl. 222175) This invention relates generally to the sprayer art, and more specifically to a new and useful portable sprayer adapted to be carried on the back of the user.

To be useable, a sprayer intended to be carried must not be so heavy as to make this impractical. At the same time, it is desired that such a sprayer have as large a capacity as possible.

Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide a sprayer which is extremely light in weight, so as to be readily portable on the back of the user, and which has sufficient capacity to make it effective over a large area.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprayer adapted to be carried on the back of the user and having controls which are positioned for convenient manipulation by the user, without requiring him to reach back.

A further object of my invention is to accomplish the foregoing in a relatively inexpensive construction which is easily fabricated and assembled, and disassembled, and which is economical in operation.

In one aspect thereof, a sprayer constructed in accordance with my invention is characterized by the provision of a blower, means for driving the blower, a duct communicating with the blower for receiving air discharged therefrom, a hopper having an opening communicating with the duct for feeding material from the hopper into the air discharged from the blower, a mixing device in the hopper, a turbine connected to the mixing device for driving the same, and means diverting a portion of the air discharged from the blower to the turbine for driving the latter.

In another aspect thereof, a sprayer constructed in accordance with my invention is characterized by the provision of means further diverting a portion of the air passing to said turbine to the upper portion of said hopper, thereby to pressurize the hopper and force material therefrom through the opening.

The foregoing and additional objects, advantages and characterizing features will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of one, illustrative embodiment of my invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of a sprayer constructed in accordance with my invention, portions being broken away for ease of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof on an enlarged scale, taken about on line III-III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view thereof, on an enlarged scale, taken about on line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, which show an illustrative embodiment of a sprayer constructed in accordance with my invention, there is provided a mounting frame, generally designated 1, adapted to be fastened to the user by straps 2, to lie against the back of the user. The sprayer is powered from a suitable source, such as a conventional gasoline engine 3, and comprises, in general: a blower 4, adapted to be driven by engine 3; a duct including an elbow 5, connected to from; a flexible conduit or hose 6, connected to elbow 5; a spray nozzle 7, connected to flexible hose 6; a hopper 8, mounted over elbow 5 and provided with an opening 10 for feeding material into duct 5; a conduit 11, diverting a portion of the blower discharge to drive a turbine 12 (FIG. 3); a branch conduit 13 diverting a portion of the air from conduit 11 to pressurize the interior of hopper 8 and thereby force material through opening 10; and a mixing device 14, driven by turbine 12 through a reduction gear train 15.

If hopper 8 is to contain a liquid, opening 10 is closed by a valve 16 (FIG. 2) actuated by handle 17, and the liquid material is fed through an outlet conduit 18 and flexible conduit 19 to an aspirating nozzle 20 in sprayer nozzle 7.

The foregoing comprises the general arrangement of a sprayer of my invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, blower 4 comprises an axial fiow fan having a rotor 21 mounted on shaft 22 journaled in suitable bearings and driven from the output shaft 23 of motor 3 through a speed increasing gear train 24. Blower housing 25 is mounted on gear train housing 26 by legs 27 permitting the entry of air into the blower inlet 28. A detwisting stator 29 is provided in the blower outlet, to produce an axial flow, it being understood that the rotor blades are curved in one direction and the stator vanes are curved in the opposite direction. A diffuser 30 is positioned in the blower outlet, beyond stator 29.

Elbow 5 is divided, for a portion of its length, by a pair of generally vertical dividing walls 31 into an inner portion 32, with which the hopper feed opening 10 communicates, and a separated outer portion 33, on opposite sides of inner portion 32. The diverting conduit 11 is connected to an elbow 34 extending upwardly from the side wall of elbow 5 and communicating therethrough with the portion 33, whereby the air discharged from blower 4 and diverted through conduit 11 to hopper 8 and turbine 12 is free of the material fed into the blower discharge through hopper opening 10.

The mixing device 14 comprises a shaft 35 journalled for rotation in a bearing 36 supported from the wall of hopper 8 by an appropriate supporting brace 37. At its lower end, adjacent the dry material feed opening 10, shaft 35 is provided with a number of mixing arms extending radially, as at 38, downwardly in an inverted U- shape, as at 39, and obliquely downwardly, as at 40. The arms 38-40 stir the material in the hopper, thereby mixing the same and facilitating the feeding of dry material through opening 10, it being found that, for many materials at least, such mixing and agitation is essential in order to avoid bridging and lumping at the opening.

It is a particular feature of my invention that mixing device 14 is driven by the discharge from blower 4, thereby avoiding any necessity of a mechanical drive from motor 3. This is accomplished through the turbine 12, which is mounted in a recessed portion 42 in an upper corner of hopper 8. Turbine 12 is provided with an inlet 43 receiving the air diverted through conduit 11, which conduit includes a portion 44 extending into and upwardly through hopper 8 to the recessed portion 42 thereof. From inlet 43, the air passes through stationary vanes 44 to rotor 45, being discharged outwardly therefrom as indicated by the arrow 46. The rotor shaft 47 is connected to the shaft 35 of mixing device 14 through the speed reduction gear train 15. Blower 4 is driven at very high speed, causing rotor 45 of turbine 12 to be driven at speeds as high as 12,000 r.p.m., which provides more than enough drive power to mixing device 14.

To further assist in the discharge of material through the feed openings 10 and 18, branch conduit 13 communicates with conduit portion 44 to divert a portion of the air passing therethrough to the upper part of hopper 8, immediately below top wall 49 thereof. This places the inside of the hopper under constant pressure, whenever blower 4 is operated, and forces the material in the hopper downwardly through the openings 10 and 18. Thus, the utilization of a drive turbine adjacent the hopper mixing device, and diversion of a portion of the blower discharge to drive the turbine, provides a simple and inexpensive source of power for the mixing device and simultaneously provides pressurizing air at the point where it is needed.

When the hopper contains liquid, valve 16 is actuated to close feed opening 10, and cut it oif from communication with the elbow 5 through its inlet 50. Valve 16 is a simple slide valve having an opening 52 therethrough and mounted in a bracket 53 secured to the inlet 50 for movement placing its opening 52 alternately in and out of communication with the opening and inlet 50. Valve 16 is moved by handle 17 which has a pivot connection on bracket 54, so that shifting handle 17 in a vertical plane will shift the valve.

Hopper 8 rests on elbows, being secured thereto through bracket 53, and a supporting brace 9 extends between hopper 8 and engine 3 for greater stability.

The liquid fed through the outlet conduit 18 and flexible conduit 19 passes to an aspirating nozzle 20 secured in sprayer nozzle 7 by a bracket 58. The flow of the liquid is regulated by a valve 59, which can be a simple plug type valve, conventional per se, controlled by a handle 60,.

Thus, it is seen that a sprayer of my invention is relatively simple and economical in construction, comprising an easily assembled and disassembled arrangement of parts, many of which are conventional and do not require custom fabrication. The sprayer is secured by appropriate fastenings to frame 1, which has cross straps 51 receiving a cushion 52 to bear against the back of the wearer, for greater comfort.

In use the sprayer is carried on the back of the user, and as evident from the top plan view of FIG. 1 the flexible hose 6 will extend along the right hand side of the user, adjacent his elbow and forearm, so. that he can hold and move nozzle 7, and readily manipulate the liquid flow valve handle 60 to regulate the feeding of liquid to the sprayer nozzle. Control of the dry material feed is readily accomplished through lever 17 which extends beside the wearer, for convenient manipulation without requiring the user to reach back at any time.

The hopper is filled with material through an opening 61, normally closed by a cover 62, and the gasoline engine is supplied from a gas tank 63, carried as part of the unit, whereby the unit is completely self-contained and can be taken wherever desired. 1 have determined that, with the construction of my invention, a sprayer weighing only about twenty-five pounds, plus the weight of the material in hopper 8, will produce a jet of air at the nozzle equal to 200 mph. at a volume of 600 cubic feet per minute, the blower producing a pressure equal to about 20 inches of water. This provides a sprayer of extremely high capacity, effective over a large range. Accordingly, it is seen that the intended objects of my invention are fully accomplished.

While I have disclosed and described in detail only one, presently contemplated embodiment of my invention, that has been done by way of illustration only and without thought of limitation. I am aware that modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from my invention, and I intend to include the same within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

1. A sprayer comprising a blower having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for driving said blower, a duct communicating with said blower outlet to receive air discharged therefrom, a hopper having an opening communicating with said duct for feeding material from said hopper into the air discharged from said blower, a rotary mixing device suspended in said hopper, and means for driving said mixing device including an air turbine connected thereto in the top portion of the hopper, and means diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said turbine for driving the same.

2. A sprayer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of said hopper is normally closed, together with means diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said upper portion of said hopper for pressurizing the same and thereby assisting material in said hopper through said opening.

3. A sprayer comprising a blower, means for driving said blower, a duct communicating with said blower for receiving air discharged therefrom, a hopper having an opening communicating with said duct for feeding material from said hopper into the air discharged from said blower, a mixing device suspended in said hopper, a turbine at the top of the hopper, mechanism on top of the hopper operatively connected between the turbine and said mixing device to drive the same, and a conduit communicating at one end with said duct downstream thereof from the hopper opening and communicating at its other end with said turbine for diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to drive said turbine.

4. A sprayer as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper portion of said hopper is normally closed, together with means diverting a portion of the air passing through said conduit to said upper portion of said hopper for pressurizing the latter and thereby assisting material through said opening.

5. A sprayer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said duct is divided into separated portions, said hopper opening communicating with one of said portions, and said conduit communicating with the other of said portions.

6. A sprayer comprising a vblower, means for driving said blower, a duct communicating with said blower for receiving air discharged therefrom, a hopper having a relatively large first opening communicating with said duct for feeding dry material from said hopper into the air discharged from said blower, said hopper also having a relatively small second opening in the bottom part thereof communicating with said duct for feeding liquid material from said hopper into the air discharged from said blower, first valve means selectively operable to open and close said first opening, second valve means selectively operable to control the flow of liquid through said second opening into said duct, a mixing device in said hopper, a turbine connected to said mixing device to drive the same, a conduit placing said turbine in communication with said duct, means in the duct for diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said conduit for driving the turbine, said hopper normally being closed except for said openings, and means further diverting a portion of the air diverted by said conduit to the upper part of said hopper above the material contained therein to pressurize said hopper and force such material through said openings.

7. A sprayer as set forth in claim 6, wherein said duct comprises a spray nozzle and a part interposed between said blower and said nozzle and divided into separated portions, said first opening communicating with one of said portions, the other of said portions comprising said diverting means, and said second opening communicating with said duct at said nozzle.

8. A portable sprayer adapted to be carried on the back of the user and comprising a supporting frame, means for mounting said frame on the back of the user, a blower mounted on said frame and having an outlet directed laterally of said frame, a duct connected to said outlet to receive air discharged from said blower and including an elbow directed at substantially a right angle to said blower outlet, a flexible hose connected to said elbow to extend forwardly therefrom beside the user, and a nozzle connected to said flexible hose, a hopper superposed above said blower and said elbow, said hopper having an opening communicating with said elbow, a mixing device in said hopper, a turbine mounted on said hopper and connected to said mixing device to drive the same, and a conduit communicating at one end with said elbow and at its other end with said turbine for diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said turbine for driving the same.

9. A portable sprayer as set forth in claim 8, together with means diverting a portion of the air from said conduit to the upper portion of said hopper for pressurizing the same.

10. A portable sprayer as set forth in claim 8, wherein said opening comprises a relatively large first opening for feeding dry material, said hopper also having a relatively small second opening for feeding liquid material, conduit means extending along said flexible hose from said second opening to said nozzle for conveying liquid material from said hopper to said nozzle for discharge therein, a first valve positioned at said first opening for controlling the same, an actuating handle for said first valve extending generally in the direction of said flexible hose beside the user, and a second valve located adjacent said nozzle for convenient manipulation by the user and controlling flow through said conduit means.

11. A portable sprayer adapted to be carried on the back of the user and comprising a supporting frame, means for mounting said frame on the back of the user, a blower mounted on said frame and having an outlet, a duct connected to said outlet to receive air discharged from said blower and including an elbow directed at substantially a right angle to said frame, a flexible hose connected adjacent one end thereof to said elbow to extend forwardly therefrom beside the user, and a nozzle connected to the other end of said flexible hose, a hopper superposed above said blower and said elbow, said hopper having a feed material discharge opening into said duct between said blower outlet and said hose, feed material mixing means in said hopper adjacent said discharge opening, and means including a conduit communicating with said duct between said blower outlet and said hose for diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said mixing means for operating the same.

12. A portable sprayer adapted to be carried on the back of the user and comprising a supporting frame, means for mounting said frame on the back of the user, a blower mounted on said frame and having an outlet, a duct connected to said outlet to receive air discharged from said blower, a hopper superposed above said duct, said hopper having an opening communicating with said duct, a mixing device in said hopper, a turbine supported on the hopper and connected through the top of the hopper to said mixing device to drive the latter, and a conduit communicating with said duct and with said turbine for diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to said turbine for driving the same.

13. A portable sprayer as set forth in claim 12, together with means diverting a portion of the air discharged from said blower to the upper portion of said hopper for pressurizing the same.

14. A portable sprayer according to claim 10, wherein the conduit for conveying the liquid to the nozzle comprises an element of an a-spirator having an air flow passage parallel with the path of air flow through the nozzle and having a portion of the air flow passing therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,666 11/1925 Bernier 222-193 X 1,561,039 11/1925 Walker. 1,752,956 4/1930 Lex 222-193 2,120,003 6/ 1938 Schanz 222-193 2,187,376 1/ 1940 Guibert 222--193 2,720,721 10/1955 Reynolds et a1. 2,958,155 11/1960 Emmerick 239153 X FOREIGN PATENTS 929,388 7/ 1947 France.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, ERNEST A. FALLER,

Examiners. 

8. A PORTABLE SPRAYER ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED ON THE BACK OF THE USER AND COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FRAME ON THE BACK OF THE USER, A BLOWER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING AN OUTLET DIRECTED LATERALLY OF SAID FRAME, A DUCT CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET TO RECEIVE AIR DISCHARGED FROM SAID BLOWER AND INCLUDING AN ELBOW DIRECTED AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID BLOWER OUTLET, A FLEXIBLE HOUSE CONNECTED TO SAID ELBOW TO EXTEND FORWARDLY THEREFROM BESIDE THE USER, AND A NOZZLE CONNECTED TO SAID FLEXIBLE HOSE, A HOPPER SUPERPOSED ABOVE SAID BLOWER AND SAID ELBOW, SAID HOPPER HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ELBOW, A MIXING DEVICE IN SAID HOPPER, A TURBINE MOUNTED ON SAID HOPPER AND CONNECTED THE MIXING DEVICE TO DRIVE THE SAME, AND A CONDUIT COMMUNICATING AT ONE END WITH SAID ELBOW AND AT ITS OTHER END WITH SAID TURBINE FOR DIVERTING A PORTION OF THE AIR DISCHARGED FROM SAID BLOWER TO SAID TURBINE FOR DRIVING THE SAME. 